I'm posting here as well as the Holiday board for traffic - does anyone have any gems that they know of? Any websites that I've not tried? I'm desperate because I foolishly booked my parents flight to meet us there and I cannot imagine my old Dad being happy to kip in a tent for a fortnight - aaargh!

Midweek dates are likely to be a problem for gites. Campsites are more flexible if you are taking your own equipment - can you change your sailings/other plans so you can get a sat-sat or sun-sun gite rental? Or Eurocamp/canvas/venue do any start date/any length. Or maybe a chambre d'hotes (have a look on booking .com).

Pretty much all gites will not do mid week changeovers in High Season. Let alone with a private pool. You have left it quite late! Wrist slapping aside - you are going to need to compromise. Can you cope with some hotel/campsite dates either side? Can you manage without a pool or at least have a shared one? What is your budget?

Porto thanks! And yes, I humbly accept the wrist slapping Indeed, I have left it rather late but have warned DH that we now need to make some compromises. Instead of a completely private and isolated gite, we may now have to settle for a complex of gites with shared pool facilities. DH is a huge introvert but he's also again left everything to me.

I've sent a load of emails off this morning, so awaiting replies with baited breath!

Aaaaargh! At this rate, I should be at least better prepared and start booking for 2015!

Do you need to be right ont he coast? If you go inland - you will open up a whole bunch of new villas/gites? In previous years we have visted the Charente region, but 1hr 30 mins inland from La Rochelle. But we aren't that bothered about the coast. This summer we are very near St Jean D'Angely though.